Vacuum assisted lancing system and method for blood extraction with minimal pain

ABSTRACT

A lancing system can include a device body having a sealing device coupled to a lancing end, a lancing shaft slideably coupled to the lancing end, a lancing spring coupled to the lancing shaft, a release mechanism, a main shaft slideably coupled with a free end of the device body in communication with the release mechanism, a piston coupled to the main shaft, a vacuum spring coupled to the piston, and a shaft coupler having at least two separable portions for removably coupling the lancing shaft to the main shaft. The system can include a lance tool having an insertion portion and a removal portion. A method can include creating a first portion of a vacuum, lancing a surface, and creating a second portion of a vacuum.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The following applications were filed by Applicant on Jan. 19, 2010, thesame day as the subject application: U.S. Ser. Nos. 12/689,608;12/689,618; 12/689,641; 12/689,657. Each of these applications isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention disclosed and taught herein relates generally to bloodextraction devices and methods. More specifically, the invention relatesto vacuum assisted lancing devices and methods useful for extracting aquantity of blood for sampling or testing.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are many medical reasons where a small quantity of blood needs tobe drawn from a human. Determining blood glucose levels for diagnosisand treatment of diabetes is one of the most common applications whereaccess to blood is required. Diabetes has become a significant healthrisk in the United States and other parts of the world. The rise indiabetes has caused alarm in the medical community. Major companies,research institutions, and the consuming public are collectivelyspending significant resources for the prevention, testing, andtreatment of diabetes. A person with diabetes is generally required totest their blood several times a day for glucose levels and takecorrective action if needed. Failure to test and take corrective actionwhen necessary can result in injury, both long and short termdegradation of the human body's functions, and in some cases death.

Currently, the market provides an assortment of devices that lance theskin producing a wound or other opening from which blood can beextracted. However, most require testing on an area of a user's skinthat has a high concentration of blood vessels near the surface of theskin so that the lance can produce an acceptable quantity of blood. Themost common area for testing is the finger tips, although the toes havealso been used. However, these heavily vasculated areas of the humanbody are typically highly sensitive, having a rich supply of nerveendings. As a result, blood rich areas, such as the finger tips, oftenare more pain sensitive than other less vasculated areas. Thus, the veryareas that are ideally suited for extracting blood for testing are themost sensitive to pain.

For those individuals who are required to test themselves, the frequenttesting can have negative effects on their emotional health, physicalhealth, and even personalities. At the least, in an effort to avoidpain, they are motivated to not test as often as required by theirphysician. A loss of frequency and continuity in the testing can lead tophysical and emotional complications, or a significant loss of accuracyin determining proper dietary corrections and medicine regiments. Healthcare practitioners may also be required to lance a patient's skin toextract blood for testing, which is typically done in the fingers. Insome situations, however, the fingers and toes may not be available fortesting, such as when these areas of the patient's body are bandaged orinjured, and an alternative testing site on the patient's body may berequired.

Some blood extraction devices simply lance the skin and the patientmanually squeezes the area to produce the required quantity of blood.Other blood extraction devices seek to use a vacuum to enhance the bloodrecovery from the lancing. However, in surveying the market of suchdevices, the inventor has realized that the vacuum assisted devices areeither not portable with mechanized vacuum pumps, which cansignificantly diminish their value for mobile patients, or requireunwanted maintenance, such as replacement of batteries, which are notalways available. Further, many of such devices fail to adequatelyproduce a desirable quantity of blood from portions of the skin otherthan the fingers and toes. Newer devices house multiple lances in thesame holder, and with each use a new lance is automatically selected andused such that the patient never uses the same lance twice. Many, if notall, these devices, including the ones that apply a vacuum, have beenunsuccessful in reliably extracting sufficient quantities of blood fromareas of the skin less painful than the fingers and toes. Reduction orelimination of pain has been shown to appreciably encourage the patientto follow the testing procedure prescribed by an attending physician.

While each of these devices may have certain limited applications, thereremains a need to provide a simplified and improved vacuum assistedlancing device that can be routinely used at various places on the skinand still extract a sufficient quantity of blood for the required test.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A lancing system can include a device body having a sealing devicecoupled to a lancing end, a lancing shaft slideably coupled to thelancing end, a lancing spring coupled to the lancing shaft, a releasemechanism, a main shaft slideably coupled with a free end of the devicebody in communication with the release mechanism, a piston coupled tothe main shaft, a biasing device coupled to the piston, and a shaftcoupler having at least two separable portions for removably couplingthe lancing shaft to the main shaft. The system can include a lance toolhaving an insertion portion and a removal portion. A method can includecreating a first portion of a vacuum, lancing a surface, and creating asecond portion of a vacuum.

A lancing system can include a device body having a lancing end and afree end, the lancing end having a sealing device coupled thereto, alancing shaft having a lance coupling end and an actuating end slideablycoupled to the lancing end of the device body, at least one lancingspring coupled to the lancing shaft, a release mechanism, a main shafthaving an actuating end and a free end slideably coupled with a free endof the device body in communication with the release mechanism, a pistoncoupled to the main shaft and disposed within the device body, anopening, a vacuum spring coupled to the piston so that the piston isbiased toward the free end of the device body, and a shaft couplerhaving at least two separable portions for removably coupling thelancing shaft to the main shaft, wherein a first portion is coupled tothe actuating end of the lancing shaft and a second portion is coupledto the actuating end of the main shaft.

A method of extracting blood with a vacuum assisted lancing systemincluding a device body having a lancing end and a free end, the lancingend having a sealing device coupled thereto, a lancing shaft having alance coupling end and an actuating end, a lance coupled to the lancecoupling end of the lancing shaft, a release mechanism, a main shafthaving an actuating end, a free end and a release coupler there between,wherein the main shaft is slideably coupled with the free end of thedevice body so that the release coupler may communicate with the releasemechanism, a piston coupled to the main shaft and disposed within thedevice body so that a vacuum chamber is formed between the sealingdevice and the piston, an opening that allows fluid communicationbetween the vacuum chamber and an atmosphere surrounding the vacuumchamber, a vacuum spring coupled within the device body so that thepiston is biased toward the free end of the device body, and a shaftcoupler having at least two separable portions, wherein a first portionis coupled to the actuating end of the lancing shaft and a secondportion is coupled to the actuating end of the main shaft, the methodincluding cocking the lancing system, coupling the sealing device to asurface (such as skin) for blood extraction and forming at least apartial seal between the sealing device and the surface, uncoupling therelease coupler from the release mechanism, allowing the vacuum springto at least partially deenergize, uncoupling the at least two separableportions of the shaft coupler to allow the at least two separableportions to move independently from one another within the device body,allowing the piston to travel toward the free end of such device body,creating a vacuum between the surface and the piston thereby subjectingthe surface to the vacuum, and lancing the surface while the surface issubjected to the vacuum.

A lancing system for blood extraction can include a device body having alancing end, a lancing assembly coupled at least partially inside thedevice body, the lancing assembly having a lance coupler portionslideably coupled with the lancing end of the device body, a lancecoupled to the lance coupler portion, and a lance tool removably coupledto the lance, the lance tool including a lance insertion portion and alance removal portion, wherein the lance insertion portion forms aclearance fit with the lance and the lance removal portion forms aninterference fit with the lance, and wherein the lance insertion portionis adapted to insert the lance into the lance coupler portion so thatthe lance is retained in the lance coupler portion, and the lanceremoval portion is adapted to remove the lance from the lance couplerportion so that the lance is retained in the lance removal portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric schematic view of one of many embodiments of avacuum lance system according to the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric assembly schematic view of the vacuum lancesystem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional schematic view of another of manyembodiments of a vacuum lance system having an indicator according tothe disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional schematic view of the indicator of FIG. 3Ain a viewing window.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of one of many embodiments ofa lancing mechanism according to the disclosure.

FIG. 5A is an illustration of one of many embodiments of a vacuum lancesystem in a cocked position according to the disclosure.

FIGS. 5B, 5C and 5D are illustrations of the system of FIG. 5A in threerespective positions during lancing.

FIG. 5E is an illustration of the system of FIG. 5A in an uncockedposition.

FIG. 5F is an illustration of the system of FIG. 5A manipulating asurface during lancing.

FIG. 5G is an illustration of the system of FIG. 5A vibrating a surfaceduring lancing.

FIG. 5H is a graph illustrating the vacuum magnitude versus the timeover which lancing can occur during a vacuum cycle.

FIG. 6 is a front isometric schematic view of one of many embodiments ofa vacuum lance system having a depth controller according to thedisclosure.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional schematic view of the system of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional schematic view of the system of FIG. 6 witha base contacting a spacer.

FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional schematic view of the system of FIG. 6during blood extraction.

FIG. 8A is an illustration of one of many embodiments of a vacuum lancesystem having a lance tool according to the disclosure.

FIG. 8B is an illustration of a lance being inserted into a lancecoupler with the lance tool of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C is an illustration of a lance being coupled to the lance couplerwith the lance tool of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8D is an illustration of a lance being removed from the lancecoupler with the lance tool of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of one of many embodiments ofa vacuum lance system having an external vacuum indicator according tothe disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional schematic view of one of many embodimentsof a vacuum lance system having an external vacuum assembly according tothe disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Figures described above and the written description of specificstructures and functions below are not presented to limit the scope ofwhat Applicant has invented or the scope of the appended claims. Rather,the Figures and written description are provided to teach any personskilled in the art to make and use the invention for which patentprotection is sought. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that notall features of a commercial embodiment of the invention are describedor shown for the sake of clarity and understanding. Persons of skill inthis art will also appreciate that the development of an actualcommercial embodiment incorporating aspects of the present inventionwill require numerous implementation-specific decisions to achieve thedeveloper's ultimate goal for the commercial embodiment. Suchimplementation-specific decisions may include, and likely are notlimited to, compliance with system-related, business-related,government-related and other constraints, which may vary by specificimplementation, location, and from time to time. While a developer'sefforts might be complex and time-consuming in an absolute sense, suchefforts would be, nevertheless, a routine undertaking for those ofordinary skill in this art having benefit of this disclosure. It must beunderstood that the invention disclosed and taught herein is susceptibleto numerous and various modifications and alternative forms. Lastly, theuse of a singular term, such as, but not limited to, “a,” is notintended as limiting of the number of items. Also, the use of relationalterms, such as, but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,”“upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” and the like are used in thewritten description for clarity in specific reference to the Figures andare not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the appendedclaims. When referring generally to such elements, the number withoutthe letter is used. Further, such designations do not limit the numberof elements that can be used for that function. The terms “couple,”“coupled,” “coupling,” “coupler,” and like terms are used broadly hereinand can include any method or device for securing, binding, bonding,fastening, attaching, joining, inserting therein, forming thereon ortherein, communicating, or otherwise associating, for example,mechanically, magnetically, electrically, chemically, operably, directlyor indirectly with intermediate elements, one or more pieces of memberstogether and can further include without limitation integrally formingone functional member with another in a unity fashion. The coupling canoccur in any direction, including rotationally.

This disclosure provides a vacuum assisted lancing system and methodthat can be easily used at a wide variety of places on a human oranimal, even in places with less sensitivity, such as the stomach,sides, arms and legs. The system can be used with one hand and is easilyportable. The system can minimize pain due to its ability to operate onunconventional areas on a user, and in at least one embodiment minimizespain due to vibration during lancing. The term “user” and like terms areused broadly herein and include, without limitation, a person who usesthe present invention on his/her self, or a person (or animal) for whomanother person uses the present invention to lance the person (oranimal). The system's vibration can at least partially mask any painfrom a patient during lancing. Further, the lance itself can be easilyreplaced from a position external to the system with simple insertion.Not requiring batteries, nor containing any form of motor, the system isvirtually maintenance free, other than replacement of the lance afteruse. The system can be easily carried to be readily available whereverthe user needs to take a blood sample. Integration of this system intothe common mainstream method of blood glucose measurement can besignificantly assisted because the system draws from the same pool ofbody blood as other devices. Therefore, special glucose measuringinstruments and supplies may not be required, and blood measurementprocedures may not have to be altered from those currently in practice.

FIG. 1 is an isometric schematic view of one of many embodiments ofvacuum lance system 100 according to the disclosure. FIG. 2 is anisometric assembly schematic view of the vacuum lance system of FIG. 1.FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional schematic view of another of manyembodiments of vacuum lance system 100 having an indicator 133 accordingto the disclosure. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional schematic view of theindicator 133 of FIG. 3A in viewing window 135. FIG. 4 is across-sectional schematic view of one of many embodiments of lancingmechanism 118 according to the disclosure. FIGS. 1-4 will be describedin conjunction with one another. Vacuum lance system 100 can include adevice body 102, which can comprise, for example, a tubular vacuum body,for supporting one or more components for lancing. Device body 102 canhave a bottom lancing end 104 and a top free end 106, and can, but neednot, be transparent, in whole or in part. Device body 102 can be formedfrom any material, such as plastic, metal, or another material,separately or in combination, and can be any size required by aparticular application. System 100 can, but need not, include a grip103, such as a foam, rubber, plastic, or other holder, for holding thesystem. System 100 can, but need not, include a holder 131, such as abelt clip, pocket clip, loop, or other holder, for supporting thesystem, for example, when not in use.

System 100 can include one or more components for lancing (thecomponents collectively referred to herein as a lancing assembly), whichcan include one or more components for vacuuming, coupled to device body102. System 100 can include a lance guide 112, such as a tube, coupledto lancing end 104, such as for “aiming” system 100 or for contacting alancing surface, such as skin, for lancing, directly or indirectly.Lance guide 112 can be any size required by a particular application,and can preferably include a viewing area 114 for viewing the surfacebeing lanced. Viewing area 114 can be a “window” coupled to the wall oflance guide 112, or as another example, lance guide 112 can betransparent, in whole or in part. Lance guide 112 can, but need not,have a seal 116, such as an annular seal coupled to its bottom end forsealing against a surface being lanced or, as another example, for atleast reducing discomfort to a user when system 100 is pressed againstan area of the user's body for lancing. Seal 116 can be, for example, arounded or contoured edge, a soft coating, such as a rubber coating, apad, a gasket, or another seal, in whole or in part. As another example,in at least one embodiment, which is but one of many, seal 116 can be asuction cup (see, e.g., FIG. 9). Seal 116 can, but need not, beflexible. For example, seal 116 can have an amount of flexibility, sothat lance system 100 does not have to be held substantiallyperpendicular to a lancing surface to assure sealing engagement with thesurface. Seal 116 can, but need not, include or be formed from, in wholeor in part, a material that has gripping properties, for example, sothat if the seal is moved or rotated while in contact with a surface,such as skin, the surface concurrently moves or rotates.

With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, system 100 can include alancing mechanism 118 coupled to lancing end 104, for example, to endcap 108, for supporting a lance 120 (also known as a “lancet”). Lance120 can include a lance base 120 a for supporting a lance needle 120 b.Lancing mechanism 118 can include a lancing shaft 122 slideably coupledwith end cap 108, such as along central longitudinal axis X, forcommunicating lance 120 with a surface during lancing. Lancing shaft 122can include a bottom lance coupling end 124 and a top actuating end 126,and can be any length required by a particular application, as will befurther described below. Lancing mechanism 118 can include a lancecoupler 128 coupled to lance coupling end 124 for coupling lance 120 toshaft 122, removably or otherwise. For example, lance coupler 128 can betubular and can form an interference or friction fit with lance base 120a. Lance coupler 128 can, but need not, be adjustable, such as by havinga slot or notch at least partially along its length, for example, forcoupling to lances of one or more sizes or shapes. As other examples,lance coupler 128 can include threads, screws, notches, or otherfasteners for coupling to a lance, as will be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art. Lancing mechanism 118 can include one or morebiasing devices, such as a lancing spring 130. Lancing spring 130 can becoupled to lancing shaft 122 for biasing shaft 122 in one or moredirections, temporarily, momentarily or otherwise, as will be furtherdescribed below. Lancing spring 130 can, but need not, comprise aplurality of springs, and can preferably include two springs.

System 100 can include a vacuum mechanism 132 for creating a vacuum andcommunicating with lancing mechanism 118 or other components of system100. Vacuum mechanism 132 can include a main shaft 134 having a bottommain actuating end 136, a top main free end 138, and at least onerelease coupler 140, such as, for example, a notch or indention. Mainshaft 134 can be slideably coupled with top end cap 110, for example, sothat main actuating end 136 can be disposed inside device body 102 andmain free end 138 can be disposed outside device body 102. System 100can, but need not, include a knob 146, such as a button or cap coupledto main free end 138, for manipulating main shaft 134 or othercomponents. System 100 can include a release mechanism 142, such as afiring device, for communicating with main shaft 134, for example, forreleasably coupling with release coupler 140, a series of releasecouplers, or another portion of main shaft 134. Release mechanism 142can be any type of releasable coupler, adapted to communicate with mainshaft 134, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.For example, release mechanism 142 can couple with main shaft 134 at oneor more positions along its length, such as with release coupler 140, aseries thereof or, for example, a notch, groove or outer surface, toreleasably hold main shaft 134 in a particular position until, forexample, release 144 is actuated, as will be further described below.Vacuum mechanism 132 can include a piston 148 coupled to main shaft 134for communicating with one or more other components of system 100 tocreate a vacuum. Piston 148 can be coupled, adjustably, fixedly orotherwise, anywhere on main shaft 134 inside of device body 102, suchas, for example, to main actuating end 136. Piston 148 can, but neednot, include one or more seals, such as one or more O-rings 150, and cansealingly communicate with interior wall 152 of device body 102, whichcan, for example, form a vacuum chamber 154 inside device body 102between piston 148 and a surface to be lanced in communication with seal116.

System 100 can include one or more openings 156, such as an air passageor orifice, for fluid communication between vacuum chamber 154 and anatmosphere surrounding the vacuum chamber. Opening 156 can be calibratedto allow air to flow into vacuum chamber 154 at a predetermined vacuumdissipation rate, such as, for example, a vacuum dissipation rate lessthan a predetermined vacuum generation rate in vacuum chamber 154.Opening 156 can be any suitable place for communicating with a vacuum insystem 100, such as in device body 102 (see, e.g., FIG. 9), and canpreferably, but need not, be in piston 148, separately or incombination. Each opening 156 can, but need not, be adjustable in size,which may include having an adjustable diameter or beinginterchangeable, separately or in combination. One or more openings 156can afford any rate of vacuum dissipation required by a particularapplication, such as a linear rate, non-linear rate, or another rate, inwhole or in part, separately or in combination.

Vacuum mechanism 132 can include a biasing device, such as vacuum spring158, coupled to piston 148 for biasing piston 148 in one or moredirections, such as in the upward direction. Vacuum spring 158 can, butneed not, include a compression spring disposed between bottom end cap108 and piston 148 that biases the piston away from bottom end cap 108.Alternatively, or collectively, for example, vacuum spring 158 caninclude a tension spring that biases piston 148 toward top end cap 110,such as a tension spring disposed between piston 148 and top end cap110, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art havingthe benefits of this disclosure. Vacuum spring 158 can, but need not,include a plurality of springs.

System 100 can include a vacuum indicator 133 for indicating whether orto what extent a vacuum exists within vacuum chamber 154. For example,indicator 133 can indicate when a vacuum having at least a predeterminedmagnitude is present in the system or, as another example, when a vacuumbelow the predetermined magnitude can be present, including when novacuum is present. In at least one embodiment, which is but one of many,indicator 133 can be a visual indicator, such as a tab, mark, coloredmedia, notch, or other visible indicator, coupled to main shaft 134,piston 148, or another component, so that indicator 133 can visuallyindicate, such as by being visible, when no vacuum or a vacuum below apredetermined magnitude is present in the system. Indicator 133 can bevisible, for example, through a slot, window, portion of device body102, or other transparent media, which can be any size or shape. Asshown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, for example, indicator 133 may not be visible,such as being inside device body 102, while a vacuum having apredetermined magnitude can be present in the system, and can becomevisible, such as by passing through a portion of free end 106 and intoindicator window 135 when no vacuum or a vacuum below a predeterminedmagnitude is present in the system. As another example, indicator 133can be visible through at least a portion of device body 102, through anelongated window disposed longitudinally along device body 102, orthrough a combination thereof. Alternatively, indicator 133 need not bevisible through device body 102 and can be visible only when outside ofdevice body 102, in whole or in part (see, e.g., FIGS. 5A-5E). Forexample, and without limitation, indicator 133 can be a marking on shaft134 which only becomes visible outside of device body 102 (e.g., aboverelease mechanism 142) when shaft 134 has sufficiently exited free end106, so as to indicate that the vacuum has fallen below a predeterminedvalue. In at least one of many alternative embodiments, indicator 133can be an audible indicator, digital indicator, electrical indicator,electronic indicator or, as other examples, a pressure sensitiveindicator or mechanical indicator, separately or in combination.Indicator 133 can, but need not, indicate to a user when a vacuum insystem 100 during lancing is sufficiently dissipated (i.e., is ofsufficiently low magnitude) that system 100 can be removed from asurface being lanced. For example, in an application where skin is beinglanced for purposes of drawing blood, indicator 133 can indicate whensystem 100 can be removed from the skin so that the drawn blood does notsplatter, such as could happen due to an inrush of atmospheric air,e.g., if seal 116 were to be lifted off the skin with a relatively highvacuum in vacuum chamber 154.

System 100 can include a shaft coupler 160 for releasably coupling oneor more components of system 100, such as lancing shaft 122 and mainshaft 134. Shaft coupler 160 can include two or more portions thatoptionally communicate with one another. For example, shaft coupler 160can include a first portion 160 a coupled to lancing shaft 122, such asto actuating end 126, and a second portion 160 b coupled to main shaft134, such as to main actuating end 136. First portion 160 a and secondportion 160 b can be adapted to releasably couple to one another whenbrought at least proximate to one another and to uncouple upon apredetermined event, for example, when a sufficient force applied toshaft coupler 160. In at least one embodiment, which is but one of many,one of portions 160 a, 160 b can be a magnet and the other portion canbe magnetic material, which can allow, for example, lancing shaft 122and main shaft 134 to remain coupled until a separation force, such as atensile force, is applied sufficient to overcome the coupling forcebetween first portion 160 a and second portion 160 b. Alternatively, orcollectively, either portion 160 a, 160 b can be a portion of one of theshafts 122, 134, such as one of the actuating ends 126, 136, or, asanother example, second portion 160 b can be coupled to, includingformed integrally with, piston 148. In at least one other embodiment,which is but one of many, first and second portions of shaft coupler 160can include hook and loop material, mechanical fasteners, ball and jointunions, sticky material, or other couplers, as required by a particularapplication. In at least one embodiment, which is but one of many, asufficient separation force can be any force less than a force generatedby the vacuum spring 158 (see, e.g., FIG. 2).

With reference to FIG. 4, lancing mechanism 118 can, but need not,include bottom end cap 108. Alternatively, lancing mechanism 118 can beseparately coupled to bottom end cap 108 or another portion of lancingend 104 of device body 102. Lancing spring 130 can include a pluralityof springs, such as upper spring 130 a and lower spring 130 b(collectively referred to herein as lancing spring 130). Lancingmechanism 118 can include a stop 129, such as a tab or block, forsupporting lancing spring 130 or defining the stroke of lancing shaft122, in whole or in part. In at least one embodiment, such as theembodiment shown in FIG. 4, which is but one of many, stop 129 can bedisposed between lance coupling end 124 and actuating end 126 of lancingshaft 122. Upper spring 130 a can be coupled between stop 129 andactuating end 126, and lower spring 130 b can be coupled between stop129 and lance coupling end 124. Each lancing spring 130 a, 130 b can beloosely disposed about shaft 122 or can have one or more ends fixedlycoupled to shaft 122 or stop 129, separately or in combination. Eachlancing spring 130 a, 130 b can be any type of spring, or other biasingdevice, and can have any K value or length required by a particularapplication. Lancing shaft 122 can have a resting state, which can be atleast partially defined by communication between springs 130 a, 130 band stop 129, separately or in combination with one or more othercomponents of system 100. For example, when shaft 122 is at rest, one ormore of springs 130 a, 130 b can, but need not, be in their naturalstate (i.e., neither compressed nor extended). Alternatively, one ormore springs can be under tension or compression when lancing shaft 122is at rest or, as another example, while lancing shaft 122 is in motion,such as during lancing, as required by a particular application and aswill be understood by one of ordinary skill. When lancing shaft 122 isin a rest position, lance needle 120 b can, but need not, be distal froma surface 168 being lanced, such as skin (see, e.g., FIG. 5F). Lancingshaft 122 can be any length required by a particular application and canbe slideably coupled with stop 129 so that lancing spring 130 can biasshaft 122, such as in the upward or downward direction, as will befurther described below.

FIG. 5A is an illustration of one of many embodiments of a vacuum lancesystem 100 in a cocked position according to the disclosure. FIGS. 5B,5C and 5D are illustrations of the system 100 of FIG. 5A in threerespective positions during lancing. FIG. 5E is an illustration of thesystem 100 of FIG. 5A in an uncocked position. FIG. 5F is anillustration of the system 100 of FIG. 5A manipulating a surface duringlancing. FIG. 5G is an illustration of the system 100 of FIG. 5Avibrating a surface during lancing. At least one of many methods ofusing the embodiment of system 100 shown in FIGS. 5A-5G can bedescribed. FIG. 5H is a graph illustrating the vacuum magnitude versusthe time over which lancing can occur during a vacuum cycle. FIGS. 5A-5Hwill be described in conjunction with one another.

A lance 120 can be coupled to lancing mechanism 118, such as by usingone of the methods described herein, for example, before or after system100 is in a “cocked” position (see, e.g., FIG. 5A). System 100 can becocked, for example, by pressing knob 146 downward until at least aportion of main shaft 134, such as release coupler 140, couples withrelease mechanism 142, which can releasably hold main shaft 134 andpiston 148 downwardly toward lancing end 104, such as against the forceof vacuum spring 158. Shaft coupler second portion 160 b on mainactuating end 136 can couple to first portion 160 a of shaft coupler 160on actuating end 126 of lancing shaft 122. Actuating end 126 can, butneed not, move downwardly during cocking, temporarily or otherwise.Upper spring 130 a and lower spring 130 b can, but need not, be in theirnatural states. System 100 can engage a surface to be lanced (notshown), such as to an area of skin on a person's body, which can be anyarea. For example, seal 116 on lance guide 112 can engage the surface sothat at least a partially airtight seal is formed between seal 116 andthe surface.

System 100 can be activated, or fired, for example, by actuating release144, which can at least partially uncouple main shaft 134 and, forexample, release coupler 140, from release mechanism 142, which canallow main shaft 134 to slideably communicate with top end cap 110.Release 144 can be pressed directly, such as with a user's finger, orindirectly actuated, for example, using a magnet, electrical ormechanical actuator, or another method, as required by a particularapplication. Vacuum spring 158 can at least partially decompress (orlose tension if a tension spring, as described above) and piston 148,main shaft 134 and shaft coupler 160 can move in the upward directionaway from the surface being lanced. Piston 148, which can, but need not,include one or more seals, such as O-rings 150, can be in slidingsealing engagement with interior wall 152 of device body 102, thereby atleast partially forming a vacuum in vacuum chamber 154 as piston 148moves away from the surface being lanced. One or more components oflancing mechanism 118, such as actuating end 126 and lancing shaft 122can move upward with main shaft 134, for example, due to the couplingforce of shaft coupler 160 and the force of expanding vacuum spring 158.Upper spring 130 a can expand and lower spring 130 b can contract, whichcan, for example, singularly or in combination, exert an increasingforce on first portion 160 a of shaft coupler 160 in the oppositedirection (e.g., downward) of the force exerted on second portion 160 bby vacuum spring 158 (e.g., upward) as vacuum spring 158 expands (FIG.5B). Lancing shaft 122 can have a shorter stroke than main shaft 134.For example, stop 129 can limit the stroke of lancing shaft 122, forexample, by preventing at least a portion of shaft 122 from travelingupward past the stop or, as another example, lancing spring 130(referring collectively to springs 130 a and 130 b) can be arranged tolimit the stroke of lancing shaft 122, separately or in combination withstop 129. In at least one embodiment, which is but one of many, lancingspring 130 can have, for example, a length or K-value that can result ina lancing spring force greater than the coupler force of shaft coupler160 when lancing shaft 122 is in a particular position, which can be anyposition required by a particular application.

Shaft coupler 160 can uncouple and second portion 160 b can continuemoving in the upward direction (FIG. 5C). Piston 148 can continue movingupward during and after penetration of the surface, continuously or insegments, such as by using two or more release couplers 140 thatsuccessively couple to release mechanism 142, which can increase thevacuum to which the surface can be exposed. Upper spring 130 a cancontract and lower spring 130 b can expand, singularly or incombination, which can, for example, cause first portion 160 a to movein the opposite (i.e., downward) direction from second portion 160 b ofshaft coupler 160. Lancing shaft 122 may be drawn back away from thesurface and the coupling force between portions 160 a and 160 b may beovercome. Lancing mechanism 118 can move toward a rest position, such asdue to the force of one or more springs 130. Lancing shaft 122 can movedownwardly, such as until at least a portion of lance 120 contacts thesurface (FIG. 5D). In at least one embodiment, which is but one of many,lancing shaft 122 can, but need not, move downwardly far enough thatupper spring 130 at least partially compresses and lower spring 130 b atleast partially expands as lance 120 lances the surface. As will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill, inertia may cause lancing shaft 122to move past its rest position (e.g., downward), for example, so thatlance needle 120 b may pierce the surface, before returning to its restposition. After at least partially penetrating the surface, each ofsprings 130 a, 130 b and lancing shaft 122 can return to a state of rest(FIG. 5E), and lance 120 can be disposed upwardly and distally from thesurface.

The surface can be subjected to a vacuum before, during, or afterlancing, separately or in combination. Air can enter vacuum chamber 154,such as through opening 156, which can dissipate the vacuum at any raterequired by a particular application. Indicator 133, such as a tab,groove, or mark, can become visible, such as by passing outside ofdevice body 102, which can indicate dissipation of the vacuum, in wholeor in part. System 100 can be disengaged from the surface, which canleave a quantity of blood on the surface for collection.

A surface 168 being lanced can, but need not, be manipulated duringlancing, which can include twisting, pumping, pressing up and down, orany movement, separately or in combination (see, e.g., FIG. 5F). Forexample, where surface 168 is skin, one or more components on lancingend 104 of device body 102, such as lance guide 112 or seal 116, can beused to knead, massage or otherwise manipulate the skin at any timeduring the lancing process, for example, before, during or after theskin is lanced, which can result in a greater volume of blood 176 beingextracted and/or more rapid blood extraction. As an example of thismanipulation, seal 116 can be placed against the skin and twisted in oneor more directions, such as back and forth, clockwise, thencounterclockwise (or vice versa), for example, so that the skin twists,such as due to friction between the skin and seal 116, which canincrease blood flow to the area being lanced or out of an opening in theskin made by lance 120. The surface of seal 116 can be made of or coatedwith a gripping type substance, such as to aid in twisting the surfacewhen seal 116 is being twisted. Another example of this manipulation,which can speed up blood drawing, can include increasing and decreasinginward pressure of seal 116 on the surface in a pulse-like action. Eachof these classes of manipulation, just as with squeezing a finger if itis pricked, can speed up blood flowing through a lance-generated hole.This can be especially true in the presence of a vacuum on the surfaceas described in the present disclosure. The degree of manipulation, ifany, of the skin can vary from surface to surface on areas of the user,and from user to user, as will be understood by one of ordinary skillhaving the benefits of this disclosure.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 5A-5G, and further reference to FIG.5H, the timing and magnitude of vacuum creation and lancing can includeone or more variables, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill,each of which can have any value required by a particular application.The magnitude of the vacuum and the rate at which the vacuum can becreated, the timing of lancing, such as when shaft coupler 160uncouples, the rate at which lance 120 can travel, and the force withwhich lance 120 strikes a surface, or other factors can, but need not,be optimized for a particular application. Further, the vacuum creationcan occur in a single stage, or in multiple stages. For example, one ormore of these factors can be correlated with travel and timing of thepiston 148 along a length of device body 102. As will be understood byone of ordinary skill in the art, the further piston 148 travels withindevice body 102 (e.g., away from a surface being lanced), the higher avacuum in vacuum chamber 154 may be. Further, the force with which lance120 contacts a surface, such as skin, can be at least enough to punctureor penetrate the surface, and can advantageously drive at least aportion of needle 120 b through the surface and into subcutaneous tissuebeneath the surface from which blood may be taken. One or more variablescan be defined by the length and/or K value of a spring, such as oflancing spring 130 or vacuum spring 158, the volume of vacuum chamber154 or, as another example, by the weight, stroke or length of a shaft,such as lancing shaft 122 or main shaft 134.

In at least one embodiment, such as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A-5G,which is but one of many, the stroke of lancing shaft 122 can determinewhen shaft coupler 160 can uncouple during lancing and when lance 120can contact or penetrate the surface being lanced, such as during aperiod of time in which a vacuum can be applied to the surface. Forexample, upon release from a cocked position, piston 148 can travelupward from a lowermost position (see, e.g., FIG. 5A) where no vacuumexists within vacuum chamber 154 to an uppermost position (see, e.g.FIG. 5E), thereby creating a maximum vacuum within vacuum chamber 154,which can be any magnitude of vacuum, such as up to 30 inches ofmercury, required by a particular application.

As shown for illustrative purposes in FIG. 5H, lancing of a surface canoccur at any time before, during, or after a vacuum cycle, as may besuitable for a particular application. For example, the lancing of thesurface can occur before a vacuum is created, as indicated by referenceA. Alternatively, the lancing of the surface can occur while the vacuumis increasing in the device body, as indicated by reference B, such asat ½ of peak vacuum P. As will be understood by one of ordinary skillhaving the benefits of this disclosure, reference B illustrates one ofmany lancing times during vacuum creation, and lancing can alternativelyoccur at any point along a line between references A and C. The lancingcan also occur when the vacuum is at peak vacuum P, illustrated byreference C. In one or more other embodiments, lancing may occur afterpeak vacuum and before the vacuum has been entirely dissipated, such asat a point in time illustrated by reference D, which may be, forexample, ⅓P, or any point in time along a line between references C andE. As another example, lancing may occur after a vacuum has dissipated,such as at the point in time illustrated by reference E.

As described above, lancing can occur at any time during a vacuum cycle,including before, during, or after a vacuum is created, and canadvantageously occur when at least a partial vacuum is created, such asbetween 30% and 70%, or any increment there between, of the maximumvacuum for a particular application. In at least one embodiment, whichis but one of many, lancing can preferably occur at between 40% and 60%of vacuum creation, or any increment there between, such as at 50%vacuum creation. For example, the maximum vacuum can be −20 inHg, andthe surface can be lanced when the vacuum in vacuum chamber 154 is, forexample, −10 inHg. However, this need not be the case, and the examplesdescribed herein are for illustrative purposes. The timing of lancingcan, but need not, be adjustable. For example, in at least oneembodiment, such as a commercial embodiment, which is but one of many,system 100 can include a plurality of interchangeable lancing shafts,each of which can have a different length, which can determine whenlancing occurs during a vacuum cycle, as described above.

The rate at which the vacuum is created, which can be determined by therate at which piston 148 travels upward, can, but need not, beadjustable. For example, in at least one embodiment, system 100 caninclude a shock absorber, piston or other device (not shown), forcontrolling the rate at which piston 148 ascends during lancing. Thevacuum can be dissipated, or released, such as through opening 156, ormovement of piston 148, separately or in combination, at any raterequired by a particular application. For example, where the surfacebeing lanced is skin, the vacuum can advantageously be released at arate that may allow an adequate amount of blood for collecting to bedrawn from the surface or, as another example, at a rate that can atleast partially minimize blood splatter when the system is removed fromthe skin.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 5A-5G, system 100 can, but need not,be adapted to vibrate during lancing. The term “vibrate” andconjugations thereof are used broadly herein and specifically include,without limitation, any shake, quiver, pulsation, or other movementapplied by lance system 100 to a surface being lanced. One or morevibrations can be timed to occur in proximity (e.g., in time and space)to lance penetration of a surface, which can mask the sensation ofpenetration from the user. Vibration in system 100 can at leastpartially mask pain associated with lancing, if any, such as where thesurface being lanced is skin. The vibration can be controlled byadjusting properties of one or more of the components, such as thedynamic components, of a particular embodiment of system 100, and canhave any magnitude or duration required by a particular application. Themagnitude of a vibration can depend on, or be predetermined by, forexample, the mass of one or more components in the system, the K valueof one or more springs, the stroke of one or more shafts, the momentumof one or more components, or other factors, as will be understood byone of ordinary skill having the benefits of this disclosure. One ormore vibrations can occur singularly, consecutively, concurrently,supplementary or otherwise, and can occur in, or transfer to, one ormore components of system 100. Advantageously, one or more vibrationsmay be present at lancing end 104, for example, so that the vibrationscan at least partially transfer to surface 168 during lancing (see, e.g.FIG. 5G), which can thereby aid in masking the pain of lancing. Thevibration can be caused by any of the components, such as the dynamiccomponents, of a particular embodiment of system 100, and can have anymagnitude or duration required by a particular application. Themagnitude of a vibration can depend on, or be predetermined by, forexample, the mass of one or more components in the system, the K valueof one or more springs, the stroke of one or more shafts, the momentumof one or more components, or other factors, as will be understood byone of ordinary skill having the benefits of this disclosure. In atleast one embodiment, which is but one of many, a vibration can beginbefore penetration of a surface, and can, at least partially, continueduring penetration of the surface. The vibration can advantageously, butneed not, continue after the surface has been lanced. As other examples,one or more components of lancing mechanism 118, such as lancing spring130 or lancing shaft 122, can cause vibration in system 100, separatelyor in combination with other components in the system.

In at least one embodiment, which is but one of many, one or moreportions of the lancing assembly, such as lancing shaft 122, lancecoupler 128, or main shaft 134, can move in a first direction, such astoward free end 106 of device body 102, for example, over a firstdistance. One or more of the portions, such as first portion 160 a ofshaft coupler 160, can be stopped from moving further in the firstdirection, such as further than the first distance, for example, by stop129, which can cause a vibration in one or more parts of system 100.Advantageously, the vibration continues to occur for an amount of timeat least long enough for the surface to be penetrated. One or morecomponents can move in a second direction, such as in a directionopposite the first direction, for example, toward the lancing end 104 ofdevice body 102. The one or more components, such as lancing shaft 122or first portion 160 a of shaft coupler 160, can be stopped from furthermoving in the second direction, for example, past a second distance,which can cause one or more vibrations in system 100.

FIG. 6 is a front isometric schematic view of one of many embodiments ofvacuum lance system 100 having a depth controller 162 according to thedisclosure. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional schematic view of the system100 of FIG. 6. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional schematic view of the system100 of FIG. 6 with a base contacting a spacer. FIG. 7C is across-sectional schematic view of the system 100 of FIG. 6 during bloodextraction. FIGS. 6-7C will be described in conjunction with oneanother. Vacuum lance system 100 can include a depth controller 162 forcontrolling the depth to which a surface is lanced during lancing. Depthcontroller 162 can include a calibrated spacer 164 and a spacer coupler166 for coupling spacer 164 to lancing end 104 of device body 102. Depthcontroller 162 can be formed from any material, such as plastic ormetal, and can be replaceably and interchangeably coupled to device body102 in any manner, such as being threaded thereon, forming aninterference or friction fit with one or more other components of system100, or fastened with fasteners, such as screws, brackets, adhesive, orother fasteners, removably, permanently or otherwise, and other methodof attachment. Alternatively, depth controller 162 can be fixedlycoupled to device body 102, integrally or otherwise, or any portionthereof. Depth controller 162 can, but need not, be transparent, inwhole or in part. Spacer coupler 166 can be tubular and can be coupled,for example, to lance guide 112 (see, e.g., FIG. 1) or, as anotherexample, in place of lance guide 112, as required by a particularapplication. Spacer 164 can be coupled to spacer coupler 166, includingbeing formed integrally therewith, between lance 120 and a surface 168being lanced.

Spacer 164 can include a central opening, such as hole 170, for allowingat least a portion of lance 120 to pass there through, and can have acalibrated thickness “t”, which can be any thickness required by aparticular application, and which can be the same or different from thethickness of one or more portions of spacer coupler 166. Spacer 164 can,but need not, be adjustable, which can include being interchangeable,individually or simultaneously with spacer coupler 166, for example, toallow for spacers of different thicknesses. Hole 170 (having dimension“d” in FIG. 7A) can have any shape or cross-sectional area required by aparticular application, and can advantageously have a cross-sectionalarea larger than that of needle 120 b and smaller than that of base 120a (having dimension “D” in FIG. 7A) so that needle 120 b can passthrough hole 170 and base 120 a can not, i.e., D>d (see, e.g., FIG. 7B).Base 120 a can contact the upper surface 172 of spacer 164 duringlancing, which can limit the depth to which needle 120 b can penetratesurface 168, such as to the difference between length “l” of needle 120b and the thickness “f” of spacer 164. This can be advantageous, forexample, because the depth of penetration of needle 120 b into surface168 can be controlled regardless of the force with which lance 120travels in the downward direction during lancing, which can be anyforce. For example, where the surface 168 is skin, the force required tothrust lance 120 into the skin can vary from application to applicationand user to user, such as between relatively soft or thin skin andrelatively tough or thick skin, such as, for example, calloused skin.

Depth controller 162 can allow, for example, a relatively large force,such as a force large enough to lance calloused skin, to also be used onsofter areas of skin, for example, by stopping the travel distance ofneedle 120 b, so that regardless of its toughness, skin can be lanced toa depth of “l” minus “t” when the bottom surface 174 of the spacer 164is adjacent the skin, i.e., a depth equal to the difference between thelength “l” of lance needle 120 b and the thickness “f” of spacer 164. Asanother advantageous example, where the surface 168 being lanced isskin, a blunt force or vibration can result, such as from an impactbetween upper surface 172 and base 120 a, which can, but need not, maskpain that can result from lancing. In at least one embodiment, which isbut one of many, and is described herein only for illustrative purposes,lance 120, which can, but need not, be an off-the-shelf commerciallyavailable lance, can have a base 120 a having a dimension “D” (whichcan, but need not, be a diameter) of 0.250″ and a lance needle 120 bhaving a length “l” of 0.125″. Spacer 164 can have a thickness “f” of0.035″ and a hole 170 having a dimension “d” of 0.200″. As will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill having the benefits of thisdisclosure, this illustrative embodiment, for example, can penetrate thesurface 168 being lanced up to 0.090″ which is the difference betweenthe exemplary length “l” of needle 120 a and the exemplary thickness “t”of spacer 164.

The thickness “t” of spacer 164 can be any thickness required by aparticular application, wherein the greater the thickness “t”, thelesser the lance penetration depth, and vice versa, for a particularlength “l” of a needle 120 a required by a particular application. Thethickness “t” of a particular spacer 164 can preferably allow at least aportion of needle 120 b to penetrate surface 168, such as skin oranother lancing surface, so that blood 176 may leave surface 168. Spacer164 can be calibrated for any surface, such as for one or more areas ofa user's skin. For example, spacer 164 can be relatively thin for somesurfaces, such as where blood vessels are scarce or more distant fromthe surface of the skin, or spacer 164 can be relatively thick for othersurfaces, for example, where blood may be closer to the skin, which canvary from application to application, or from user to user. Bottomsurface 174 of spacer 164 can, but need not, be in direct contact with alancing surface, for example, for allowing hole 170 to sealingly engagethe surface. In at least one embodiment, for example, depth controller162 can include an annular rim (not shown), which may comprise a seal,coupled to bottom surface 174 and extending downwardly to engage alancing surface, singularly or in combination with bottom surface 174.

Depth controller 162 can include interchangeable or modular units, whichcan include interchangeable spacers 164 for a particular depthcontroller 162 or, as another example, interchangeable depth controllers162 for a particular system 100, wherein one or more depth controllers162 can, but need not, have spacers 164 of different calibratedthicknesses. Each interchangeable unit can be graduated and can, forexample, vary incrementally from unit to unit. In at least oneembodiment, which is but one of many, system 100 can include a pluralityof depth controllers 162, such as a set or kit, which can include aplurality of different depth controllers or spacers that can beselectively changed or switched by a user as required by a particularapplication. In at least one embodiment, which is but one of many, a setof depth controllers 162 may be stored, or storable, in a container,such as a bag or case, such as when not in use. A user can choose to useany of one or more depth controllers 162 required by a particularapplication, which can include choosing to use a depth controlleralready coupled to device body 102 or, as another example, can includechoosing a depth controller separate from device body 102 and couplingthe chosen depth controller to device body 102.

FIG. 8A is an illustration of one of many embodiments of a vacuum lancesystem having a lance tool 200 according to the disclosure. FIG. 8B isan illustration of a lance 120 being inserted into lance coupler 128with lance tool 200. FIG. 8C is an illustration of a lance 120 beingcoupled to lance coupler 128 with lance tool 200. FIG. 8D is anillustration of a lance 120 being removed from lance coupler 128 withlance tool 200. FIGS. 8A-8D will be described in conjunction with oneanother. Vacuum lance system 100 can include a lance tool 200 forcoupling and uncoupling a lance 120 with lance coupling end 124 oflancing shaft 122, such as to lance coupler 128, safely andconveniently. Lance tool 200 can include a lance tool body 202 and oneor more couplers, such as, for example, lance insertion coupler 204 andlance removal coupler 206, which can, but need not, be tubular. Forexample, insertion coupler 204 and removal coupler 206 can, but neednot, have annular cross-sections and/or one or more longitudinal slotsto allow lance 120 to be inserted therein, as will be understood by oneof ordinary skill.

To install lance 120 into system 100, for example, lance 120 can beinserted into insertion coupler 204 “needle end first” so that theneedle 120 b of lance 120 is inside insertion coupler 204 and so thatbase 120 a of lance 120 couples with insertion coupler 204 and at leasta portion of base 120 a protrudes from insertion coupler 204 (see, e.g.,FIG. 8B). In at least one embodiment, which is but one of many, base 120a and insertion coupler 204 can form a clearance fit or, as anotherexample, an interference fit less than an interference fit between lancecoupler 128 and base 120 a. Insertion coupler 204 and lance 120 can bemoved toward lancing end 104, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 8B, anddisposed so that the portion of base 120 a protruding from insertioncoupler 204 couples with lance coupling end 124 of lancing shaft 122,such as to lance coupler 128 (see, e.g., FIG. 8C). For example, asmentioned above, lance base 120 a can form an interference fit withlance coupler 128 so that lance 120 uncouples from insertion coupler 204and remains seated in lance coupler 128 for lancing when lance tool 200is removed from lance guide 112, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8C.

To remove lance 120 from lance coupler 128, for example, lance removalcoupler 206 can be inserted into lance guide 112 until removal coupler206 passes over needle 120 b and couples to base 120 a of lance 120. Forexample, removal coupler 206 and base 120 a can form an interferencefit, such as an interference fit having a greater interference (i.e., atighter fit) than the interference fit formed between base 120 a andlance coupler 128. Lance tool 200 and lance 120 can be moved away fromlance coupler 128, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 8D, and lance 120can uncouple from lance coupler 128 and remain coupled to removalcoupler 206, which can remove lance 120 from lance coupling end 124.Although lance insertion coupler 204 and lance removal coupler 206 ofthe lance tool 200 have been described herein to communicate with lance120 using one or more “fits,” such as an interference or clearance fit,this need not be the case, and, alternatively, each coupler 204, 206 cancommunicate with lance 120 in any manner required by a particularapplication, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.As one example, which is but one of many, lance 120 can threadablycouple to lance coupler 128, and one or more of couplers 204, 206 of thelance tool 200 can include a notch, groove, or other structure forcommunicating with lance 120, such as in a complementary fashion,separately or in combination with a particular fit, for example, forscrewing lance 120 into or unscrewing lance 120 from lance coupler 128.

In at least one embodiment of lance system 100, which is but one ofmany, lance tool 200 can be coupled to lance device body 102, such as tothe exterior along its length, when not in use. For example, lancedevice body 102 or lance tool 200 can, but need not, have at least oneholder 208, such as complementary couplers, mounted thereon, such as,for example, magnets, hook and loop material, snaps or other fasteners.As other examples, device body 102 can have a hook, brace, grip or otherholder coupled thereto and adapted to hold lance tool 200, such as bytool body 202, or device body 102 can have a stud or bracket adapted tocouple to insertion coupler 204 or removal coupler 206. Lance tool 200can be formed from any material required by a particular application,such as plastic, metal or another material, and can be any shape orsize, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art havingthe benefits of this disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of one of many embodiments ofa vacuum lance system 300 having an external vacuum indicator 302according to the disclosure. For purposes of clarity, the same referencenumerals as those used previously herein will be used in some instances,while new reference numerals will be used to reference components thatmay not have been described above. It should be understood that althoughthe same reference numeral may be used to reference a component in twoor more Figures, the component can, but need not, be exactly the same inpractice, as required by a particular embodiment or application.

Lance system 300 can generally function similarly to one or more of theother embodiments described herein, and can include an external vacuumindicator 302 coupled to device body 102 for indicating whether a vacuumis present in the system. Indicator 302 can include an indicator body304 coupled in fluid communication with vacuum chamber 154, such as withindicator air tube 306, which may be any type of conduit. Indicator 302can include a marker 310 sealingly coupled inside indicator body 304 andan indicator spring 308 coupled between marker 310 and vacuum chamber154. Indicator 302 can include a viewing window 312 for viewing marker310, such as, for example, when no vacuum exists in the system. Window312 can be coupled anywhere to indicator body 304, for example, to thetop or side, and can be any size. For example, window 312 can, but neednot, be at least a portion of indicator body 304 and can be at leastpartially transparent, such as a thin transparent strip along the lengthof indicator body 304. Alternatively, for example, indicator body 304can be wholly transparent.

Indicator 302 can be coupled to device body 102 in any location betweena surface being lanced and piston 148. Indicator 302 can be an “L-type”indicator (as shown in FIG. 9), for example, so that indicator body 304is parallel to device body 102, a “T-type” indicator, for example, sothat indicator body 304 is perpendicular to device body 102 or, asanother example, indicator 302 can be disposed at another angle, whichcan be any angle, relative to central longitudinal axis X of the system.

As a vacuum is created in system 300 during lancing, marker 310, such asa disk or other indicator, can travel toward tube 306, and, for example,spring 308 can be compressed. Marker 310 can, but need not, becomeinvisible. As the vacuum is released during lancing, marker 310 can movealong tube 306 and spring 308 can expand, which can move at least aportion of marker 310 into view, such as being visible through window312. While indicator spring 308 can be shown to be a compression springin FIG. 9 for illustrative purposes, it need not be, and canalternatively be a tension spring, or both, separately or incombination, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill.

With further reference to FIG. 9, system 300 can include at least oneopening between vacuum chamber 154 and an atmosphere surrounding thevacuum chamber, as described above (see, e.g., FIG. 5A). For example,and without limitation, the embodiment of FIG. 9, which is but one ofmany, can include three openings 156A, 156B and 156C (collectively“opening 156”), but this need not be the case and, alternatively, system300 may include any number of openings 156, such as one, two, or more,or none, as required by a particular application. Each opening 156, suchas one or more of openings 156A-C, can be in piston 148, device body102, or another portion of system 300, separately or in combination.Like the embodiment of FIG. 9, any embodiment of the present invention,such as one or more of the other embodiments shown or described herein,may include any number of openings 156 disposed in any location requiredby a particular application, separately or in combination, as will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill having the benefits of the presentdisclosure. While one or more openings 156 in a particular embodimentcan afford a linear vacuum dissipation rate (see, e.g., FIG. 5H), thisneed not be the case and, alternatively, a rate of vacuum dissipationcan be non-linear, as required by a particular application.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional schematic view of one of many embodimentsof a vacuum lance system 400 having an external vacuum assembly 402according to the disclosure. System 400 can include a lancing assembly404 for lancing a surface, which can be any lancing assembly required bya particular application. Lancing assembly 404 can, but need not,include a vacuum mechanism coupled with main device body 408, such as,for example, one or more of the embodiments described herein, partially,separately or in combination. System 400 can include a lance 120, suchas a commercially available lance, and a vacuum chamber 406, which can,but need not, extend at least partially inside main device body 408.System 400 can include an external vacuum assembly 402 for at leastpartially creating a vacuum in vacuum chamber 406. Vacuum assembly 402can, but need not, be a second, additional or supplementary source ofvacuum in system 400, and can operate separately or in combination withone or more other components, such as vacuum components, lancingcomponents, or other components of system 400.

Vacuum assembly 402 can include a vacuum body 410 for supporting one ormore components of the system. Vacuum body 410 can be tubular and canhave a vacuum end 412 and a longitudinally opposite end 414. Vacuum body410 can, but need not, be coupled to main device body 408, rigidly,removably, or otherwise. Vacuum assembly 402 can include a shaft 416,which can be slideably coupled to end 414. Vacuum assembly 402 caninclude a release mechanism 418 coupled, for example, to end 414 ofvacuum body 410, which can communicate with shaft 416 to removably holdshaft 416 or one or more other components in one or more positions.Vacuum assembly 402 can include a piston 420, which can be in sealingengagement with vacuum body 410, such as with an inner surface 422, forexample, for creating, increasing the level of, or dissipating a vacuumwithin vacuum chamber 406. Piston 420 can, but need not, include anopening (see, e.g., FIG. 5E) therein for allowing fluid communicationbetween vacuum chamber 406 and an atmosphere surrounding vacuum chamber406. Vacuum assembly 402 can include one or more springs, such as spring424, for biasing piston 420 in one or more directions, for example,toward end 414 of vacuum body 410. Vacuum assembly 402 can be fluidiclycoupled to vacuum chamber 406, for example, by conduit 426, which can beany conduit, such as a pipe, tube or other conduit, for routing fluid.Therefore, vacuum chamber 406 can include conduit 426 and at least aportion of vacuum body 410.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 10, which is but one of many, can generallyoperate or function similarly to one or more other embodiments describedherein, such as to create or release a vacuum, in whole or in part, invacuum chamber 406. For example, vacuum assembly 402 can create at leasta portion of a vacuum in vacuum chamber 406 and lancing assembly 404 canlance a surface before, during, or after the vacuum exists. Vacuumassembly 402 can, but need not, create or dissipate a vacuum inportions, such as segments or stages, for example, by movement of piston420 in one or more directions. Vacuum assembly 402 can cooperate withlancing assembly 404 to form a vacuum, in whole or in part, for example,in an embodiment, which is but one of many, wherein lancing assembly 404includes a vacuum mechanism or can otherwise be able to create at leasta portion of a vacuum independent of vacuum assembly 402. Penetration ofa surface can occur at any time during lancing, such as at apredetermined time during vacuum creation, as required by a particularapplication.

Other and further embodiments utilizing one or more aspects of theinvention described above can be devised without departing from thespirit of Applicant's invention. Further, the various methods andembodiments of the catamaran system can be included in combination witheach other to produce variations of the disclosed methods andembodiments. Discussion of singular elements can include plural elementsand vice-versa. References to at least one item followed by a referenceto the item may include one or more items. Also, various aspects of theembodiments could be used in conjunction with each other to accomplishthe understood goals of the disclosure. Unless the context requiresotherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or“comprising,” should be understood to imply the inclusion of at leastthe stated element or step or group of elements or steps or equivalentsthereof, and not the exclusion of a greater numerical quantity or anyother element or step or group of elements or steps or equivalentsthereof. The device or system may be used in a number of directions andorientations. The order of steps can occur in a variety of sequencesunless otherwise specifically limited. The various steps describedherein can be combined with other steps, interlineated with the statedsteps, and/or split into multiple steps. Similarly, elements have beendescribed functionally and can be embodied as separate components or canbe combined into components having multiple functions.

The invention has been described in the context of preferred and otherembodiments and not every embodiment of the invention has beendescribed. Obvious modifications and alterations to the describedembodiments are available to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thedisclosed and undisclosed embodiments are not intended to limit orrestrict the scope or applicability of the invention conceived of by theApplicant, but rather, in conformity with the patent laws, Applicantintends to fully protect all such modifications and improvements thatcome within the scope or range of equivalent of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vacuum assisted lancing system for bloodextraction, comprising: a tubular body having a central longitudinalaxis, a lancing end and a free end, the lancing end having a sealingdevice for contacting a surface for blood extraction; a lancing shafthaving a lance coupling end configured to couple with a lance and anactuating end, the lancing shaft being slideably coupled along thelongitudinal axis to the lancing end of the body with the actuating enddisposed within the body facing toward the free end of the body; atleast one lancing spring coupled to the lancing shaft; a releasemechanism coupled to the body; a main shaft having an actuating end, afree end and a release coupler, wherein the main shaft is slideablycoupled with the free end of the body along the longitudinal axis sothat the release coupler can communicate with the release mechanism, andwherein the actuating end of the main shaft is disposed inside the bodyfacing toward the actuating end of the lancing shaft, and wherein thefree end of the main shaft is disposed proximate to the free end of thebody; a piston coupled to the main shaft and disposed within the body sothat a vacuum chamber is formed between the sealing device and thepiston; an opening that allows fluid communication between the vacuumchamber and an atmosphere surrounding the vacuum chamber; a vacuumspring coupled within the body so that the piston is biased toward thefree end of the body and away from the actuating end of the lancingshaft; and a shaft coupler having at least two separable portions that,when coupled, removably couple the actuating end of the lancing shaftand the actuating end of the main shaft to one another, wherein a firstportion of the at least two separable portions is coupled to theactuating end of the lancing shaft and a second portion of the at leasttwo separable portions is coupled to the actuating end of the mainshaft.
 2. The lancing system of claim 1, wherein the opening is in thepiston.
 3. The lancing system of claim 1, further comprising a vacuumrelease indicator adapted to indicate whether a vacuum is present in thesystem.
 4. The lancing system of claim 3, wherein the vacuum releaseindicator is a visible indicator and wherein at least a portion of thevisible indicator is visible either outside the body or through the bodywhen no vacuum exists in the vacuum chamber.
 5. The lancing system ofclaim 1, wherein the sealing device further comprises a transparentviewing tube having one end coupled to the lancing end of the body and alongitudinally opposite end having an annular seal coupled thereto. 6.The lancing system of claim 5, wherein the annular seal is selected fromthe group consisting of a suction cup, a rubber coating and an integralcontoured edge.
 7. The lancing system of claim 1, further comprising alance coupled to the lance coupling end of the lancing shaft.
 8. Thelancing system of claim 7, wherein the lance includes a base and aneedle, and wherein the sealing device further comprises an adjustabledepth controller having a central opening there through, the centralopening being large enough for the needle to pass at least partiallythere through.
 9. The lancing system of claim 8, wherein the depthcontroller is interchangeable.
 10. The lancing system of claim 8,wherein the central opening of the depth controller has across-sectional area that is smaller in at least one dimension than across-sectional area of the base of the lance.
 11. The lancing system ofclaim 7, further comprising a lance tool removably coupled to the lance,the lance tool comprising: a lance insertion portion and a lance removalportion, wherein the lance insertion portion forms a clearance fit withthe lance and the lance removal portion forms an interference fit withthe lance; and wherein the lance insertion portion is adapted to insertthe lance into the lance coupling end of the lancing shaft so that thelance is retained in the lance coupling end, and the lance removalportion is adapted to remove the lance from the lance coupling end ofthe lancing shaft so that the lance is retained in the lance removalportion of the lance tool.
 12. The lancing system of claim 1, whereinthe piston is adapted to form a vacuum in the vacuum chamber at apredetermined vacuum generation rate, and wherein the opening is adaptedto allow air to flow into the vacuum chamber from the atmosphere at apredetermined vacuum dissipation rate.
 13. The lancing system of claim1, wherein the shaft coupler further comprises a coupling force betweenthe first and second portions that exceeds a force of the at least onelancing spring.
 14. The lancing system of claim 13, further comprising astop coupled to the body between the lance coupling end and theactuating end of the lancing shaft, the stop having a top side towardthe actuating end of the lancing shaft and a bottom side toward thelance coupling end of the lancing shaft.
 15. The lancing system of claim14, wherein the vacuum spring is adapted to move the actuating ends ofthe lancing shaft and the main shaft toward the free end of the bodyuntil the stop prevents further movement of the lancing shaft therebyovercoming the coupling force.
 16. The lancing system of claim 15,wherein the at least one lancing spring is adapted to move the actuatingend of the lancing shaft in the direction longitudinally opposite fromthe actuating end of the main shaft after the coupling force isovercome.
 17. The lancing system of claim 15, wherein the system isadapted to cause a vibration when the stop prevents further movement ofthe lancing shaft.
 18. The lancing system of claim 1, wherein the firstand second portions of the shaft coupler are adapted to be coupledtogether until a predetermined separation force is applied to the shaftcoupler.
 19. A method of extracting blood with a vacuum assisted lancingsystem including a tubular body having a lancing end and a free end, thelancing end having a sealing device coupled thereto, a lancing shafthaving a lance coupling end and an actuating end, a lance coupled to thelance coupling end of the lancing shaft, a release mechanism coupled tothe body, a main shaft having an actuating end, a free end and a releasecoupler, wherein the main shaft is slideably coupled with the free endof the body so that the release coupler may communicate with the releasemechanism, and wherein the actuating end of the main shaft is disposedinside the body toward the actuating end of the lancing shaft, a pistoncoupled to the main shaft and disposed within the body so that a vacuumchamber is formed between the sealing device and the piston, an openingthat allows fluid communication between the vacuum chamber and anatmosphere surrounding the vacuum chamber, a vacuum spring coupledwithin the body so that the piston is biased toward the free end of thebody and away from the actuating end of the lancing shaft, and a shaftcoupler having at least two separable portions, wherein a first portionis coupled to the actuating end of the lancing shaft and a secondportion is coupled to the actuating end of the main shaft, the methodcomprising: cocking the lancing system by moving the actuating end ofthe main shaft, energizing the vacuum spring, coupling the at least twoseparable portions of the shaft coupler together thereby coupling theactuating end of the lancing shaft and the actuating end of the mainshaft to one another, and coupling the release coupler to the releasemechanism; coupling the sealing device to a surface for blood extractionand forming at least a partial seal between the sealing device and thesurface; uncoupling the release coupler from the release mechanism;allowing the vacuum spring to at least partially deenergize; uncouplingthe at least two separable portions of the shaft coupler therebyuncoupling the actuating end of the lancing shaft and the actuating endof the main shaft from one another; allowing the piston to travel towardthe free end of the body; creating a vacuum between the surface and thepiston thereby subjecting the surface to the vacuum; and lancing thesurface while the surface is subjected to the vacuum and while theactuating end of the lancing shaft and the actuating end of the mainshaft are uncoupled from one another.
 20. The method of claim 19,further comprising: creating a first portion of the vacuum; lancing thesurface; and creating a remaining portion of the vacuum after thesurface has been lanced.
 21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:creating the vacuum at a predetermined vacuum generation rate; anddissipating the vacuum by allowing air to flow into the vacuum chamberthrough the opening at a predetermined vacuum dissipation rate; whereinthe vacuum dissipation rate is less than the vacuum generation rate. 22.The method of claim 21, further comprising creating the vacuum anddissipating the vacuum simultaneously.
 23. The method of claim 19,further comprising: moving the at least two separable portions of theshaft coupler in a first direction toward the free end of the body;stopping the first portion of the shaft coupler; uncoupling the at leasttwo separable portions of the shaft coupler; and moving the firstportion of the shaft coupler in a second direction longitudinallyopposite from the first direction.
 24. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising: moving the second portion of the shaft coupler in the firstdirection while the first portion of the shaft coupler is moving in thesecond direction.
 25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:manipulating the surface with at least a portion of the system;extracting blood from the surface; and collecting at least a portion ofthe extracted blood.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein manipulatingthe surface includes twisting, pumping, increasing contact pressure,decreasing contact pressure, or a combination thereof.
 27. The method ofclaim 19, wherein the system includes a vacuum release indicator, themethod further comprising indicating whether a vacuum is present in thesystem.
 28. The method of claim 19, further comprising: creating avibration on the surface before the surface is penetrated; andcontinuing at least a portion of the vibration until after the surfaceis penetrated.
 29. The method of claim 19, wherein the system includes adepth controller coupled to the lancing end of the body, the methodfurther comprising defining an extent to which the lance can penetratethe surface.